Liberators [Paperback]

Robert Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2002

This is the story of the seven extraordinary young men who gave their lives for South America's independence in the early years of the nineteenth century. They were Francisco de Miranda, who narrowly escaped the guillotine in France and impressed both George Washington and Catherine the Great; Simon Bolivar, an aristocrat with innumerable lovers, who led guerrilla armies through the swamps and jungles; the inarticulate San Martin and his comrade Bernardo O'Higgins, the illegitimate son of a Spanish viceroy; Admiral Lord Cochrane, the colourful Scottish nobleman known as the 'Sea Wolf'; Iturbide, cashiered for extortion and subsequently Emperor of Mexico; and Crown Prince Pedro of Portugal, who turned against his father and brought independence to Brazil. Despite their great daring and ultimate success, all seven died amid pathos and tragedy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Harvey... has done us all a favour in... re-creating the swashbuckling, idealistic, vicious and sex-crazed heroes and villains of South America's rebellion against Spain in this colourful, swaggering narrative history. It is an exhilarating and wildly enjoyable ride from start to finish.' - Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Sunday Times; "an entertaining and compulsive read" - The Sunday Telegraph; 'This should be prescribed reading...' -John Ure, Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Robert Harvey has been a columnist for the Daily Telegraph, assistant editor of The Economist and an MP. He is the author of many books, including a highly popular biography of Lord Cochrane. He is a former member of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, was assistant editor of The Economist, and foreign affairs leader writer for the Daily Telegraph. His books include The Undefeated: The Rise, Fall and Rise of Modern Japan, Portugal: Birth of a Democracy, Liberators and Cochrane. Robert lives in Powys, Wales.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Robinson Publishing (October 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841196231
• ISBN-13: 978-1841196237
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,070,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A worthy (especially military) reference on the period, October 2, 2006

By 

Les Fearns "casahistoria.net" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Liberators (Paperback)

Sympathetic & comprehensive narrative of the latin American Wars of Independence. Gave a new appreciation & respect for the social values of Bolivar and San Martin especially. Unfortunately, all were unappreciated in the ensuing states that they fought for - in particular by the criolla landowning families who undermined their reforms thus creating the years of chaos that followed - very much to the present. A worthy reference on the period but too heavy on military details for the general reader and limited on recent Spanish language scholarship.